Tulip Siddiq has accused Bangladeshi authorities of conducting a "targeted and baseless" smear campaign against her. She also claims that all corruption allegations leveled against her are "baseless and harassing," according to BBC Bangla.
In a letter to Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Siddiq's lawyers stated that the corruption allegations are "false and harassing." They argue that the allegations were made public through the media without ever being formally communicated to her by investigators.
The ACC has reportedly responded to the letter. BBC has seen the response, which alleges that Tulip Siddiq "benefited from Awami League corruption." The ACC also stated that her claim of "ignorance about the state of affairs during Hasina's rule" is "hard to believe."
Siddiq's Resignation and Reassurance
Following the ACC's corruption allegations, the MP for Hampstead and Highgate in North London asserted that she had not committed any wrongdoing and had acted with "transparency." However, she resigned, stating that she did not want to be a "distraction" to the government's work. In a letter accepting her resignation, Prime Minister Kier Starmer assured her that the "door remains open" for her return.
Starmer's constituency, Holborn and St. Pancras, is adjacent to Siddiq's, and they share a cordial relationship. When the corruption allegations first surfaced, Siddiq sought the advice of the Prime Minister's ethics advisor, Sir Laurie Magnus.
Sir Laurie Magnus's Findings
Magnus stated that he found "no evidence of wrongdoing" on Siddiq's part. However, he noted that it was "unfortunate" that Siddiq was not more cautious about the potential for reputational damage due to her relationship with her aunt, the deposed Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
ACC Investigation and Allegations
The ACC is investigating allegations of embezzlement of approximately £3.9 billion from Bangladesh's infrastructure sector against Sheikh Hasina and her family members. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Bobby Hajjaj.
Documents submitted to the court, as reviewed by BBC, reveal that Bobby Hajjaj alleged that Tulip Siddiq mediated between the Bangladeshi government and the Russian government regarding the £10 billion Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project. The complaint claims that expenses were inflated.
Siddiq's Lawyers' Rebuttal
In a letter to the ACC, Siddiq's lawyers, Stephenson Harwood, reiterated her claim that she was in no way involved in the nuclear power plant deal. Although she was photographed with Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a signing ceremony in the Kremlin in 2013, the letter stated that it is not uncommon for family members of heads of state or government to be invited on state visits.
The letter also stated that she was unaware of any allegations of financial irregularities.
The ACC's response letter questioned how a politician like Siddiq could claim innocence due to naivety.
London Flat Allegations
Siddiq's letter stated that the allegation that a £700,000 flat in London's King's Cross area, gifted to her in 2004, was somehow the result of embezzlement is illogical and untrue, as it predates the nuclear power plant deal by 10 years.
Sir Laurie Magnus's investigation into the allegations revealed that Siddiq was unaware of the source of her ownership of the King's Cross flat for a long time, even though she had signed a land transfer registration form related to the gift at the time.
Sir Laurie also stated that she believed her parents had bought the property for her, but she should have corrected the record after becoming a government minister. He described it as an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that unintentionally misled the public about the identity of the donor.
In the letter to the ACC, Siddiq's lawyer confirmed that the King's Cross flat was given to her by a man named Abdul Motalib, described as a close family friend and Tulip Siddiq's godfather.
Allegations of Land Grabbing in Dhaka
The letter also provided a detailed response to the ACC's allegations, made public through the media, of Siddiq's involvement in land grabbing in Dhaka. The ACC's media briefing was described as an "unacceptable attempt to interfere in UK politics."
The letter stated that no allegations had been presented to Siddiq by the ACC or the Bangladeshi government in a fair, proper, and transparent manner, or at all.
Demand for Cessation of 'False and Harassing' Allegations
The letter demanded that the ACC "immediately cease making false and harassing allegations against Tulip Siddiq and providing media briefings and public statements to damage her reputation."
The ACC was asked to present its inquiries to Tulip Siddiq "immediately" and "by March 25, 2025," failing which it would be assumed that there were no legitimate questions to answer.
ACC's Response to Siddiq's Lawyers
The ACC responded to Siddiq's lawyers, claiming that she spent most of her formative years in homes owned by close associates of the "corrupt" Awami League, which proves that she benefited from the party's corruption.
An ACC spokesperson stated that Siddiq's claim of "ignorance about the state of affairs during Hasina's rule" is not credible. The ACC also stated that it would contact her lawyers "in due course."
ACC Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen recently told the UK magazine The Times that all allegations leveled against Tulip Siddiq can be proven in any court, including UK courts.
